SB 487 Summary

• Establishes the Infant and Toddler Early Care and Family Support Initiative administered by the Office of Early Childhood to provide grants-in-aid to child care providers for creating and subsidizing infant and toddler spaces in high-need areas.

• Authorizes five-year contracts with child care providers prioritizing facilities in low-income towns with greatest early care deficits, those creating new infant and toddler spaces, accredited providers, and those owned by individuals reflecting community demographics.

• Requires contracts to provide grants of at least 75% of market rate for each infant and toddler space, a 25% accreditation bonus, assistance to achieve accreditation within three years, and family support services equal to 10% of the grant.

• Establishes a separate nonlapsing "early care and family support account" funded by remaining General Fund resources after budgetary calculations beginning fiscal year 2024, with quarterly allotments managed by the Office of Policy and Management.

• Authorizes use of up to 50% of initial account funds for technical assistance, family support services development, and evaluation tools, declining to 10% by fiscal year 2027 for ongoing program improvement and capacity expansion.